how about drinking?

Cami, I sure hope that closing happened. LMAO, the stripper song called "The Chevy". I hope Les gets before and after pics. YAY, you got the keys! I'm sorry you miss everyone so much. The way you wrote it, at first, I thought you were saying you missed your clothes.

ED, OMG did that really happen in acrobats? Sweet story of your grandson and the pool. I'm so sorry that CO incident has had such an impact on you, hopefully it won't be so bad as the days go by.

NM, warmer weather is coming and Sadie knows! Funny how you and Karen have the different school breaks. We always had Easter Vacation and it was at Easter.

Karen, I wish I could delgegate some jobs, but they all got delegated to ME. Good luck with your labs and doctor visit.

Jazzy, beautiful shot. Is that an infinity pool?

NM, the thunder surely would have caused a big upset with the kids. No more snow days, cuz they can be remote days! I guess that will become the new norm with all kids having their electronic devices.

Went to town yesterday, but before we left I went out and packed a few more orders (in the cold) The warehouse isn't heated, other than a propane ceramic wall heater in the shipping area. But it takes awhile for it to warm up. My MO's office called to tell me that the pharmacy called and they didn't send my medicine and if I could come in Tuesday. They have my infusion, but not the injections I get. Well, we are going down there Monday, staying the night and then going to the Arboretum. So, no I can't come Tuesday. Told them I just wanted to go back to having that medicine sent up here to my primary. I'm really starting to feel totally overwhelmed with everything I have to do and things piling up on me. Being gone for 2 days, all I can think about is how much I'm going to have to do when we can back.

Good Morning, Loungettes! Happy Sunday Funday! Cold, gloomy, drippy this ayem here. I would not be surprised to this turn to snow later. I do thing tomorrow is going to be a remote learning day. Sadie won't mind one bit, I'm sure. I won't either, actually. I still have a lot of stuff to ketchup on around the house here.

Cammy Cat--I will give Sadie extra belly rubs. Inever thought about trying to get a pic, if I see that bird again I'll try to get one. I don't see anything wrong with having the new house blessed or smudged or whatever. I think we need more rituals to mark the changes in our lives, and not just birth, marriage and death! Sounds like Bob is saving Jodie from getting taken on the fence job.

Goldie--I remember the school breaks being Thanksgiving Break, Christmas Break and Easter Break, but now they are Thanksgiving Break, Winter Break and Spring Break. I think it's a political correctness/culturally appropriate thing. It's getting scary to put a name on anything for fear of offending someone or some group. Both my school's principal and the districtsuperintendent believe in the occasional snow day as a break for EVERYONE, even the fully remote students. We've had 2 so far this school year. One was the day I was supposed to start work. They both hold the opinion that with everyone working so hard to make all the changes work and meet all the challenges that keep coming up an occasional day off is a deserved reward. I'm sorry you are feeling overwhelmed with all you have to do. That's not a fun feeling. Doesn't help when medication deliveries aren't made in time. I don't think the people responsible really understand how big an impact these delays have on our lives in so many ways.

Jazzy--WOW!

the welcome home cocktail

Ingredients

• 1 oz. gin
• ½ oz. lemon juice
• 4 oz. champagne
• 1 oz. simple syrup
• Ice
• 1 brandied cherry

Instructions

1. Combine the gin, lemon juice, simple syrup and ice into a shaker and shake well for ten seconds
2. Pour champagne into old fashioned glass
3. Add mixture to champagne
4. Add cherry
5. Drink!

From <https://wholefully.com/the-welcome-home-cocktail/>

Hey! I feel as though I have wasted my weekend. I have watched a lot of March Madness and been happy about all the games. The Baylor women and men both won. The women’s game went into overtime, but they pulled it out. The Lady Gamecocks also won today pretty much going away. More games next week! Also waited and waited for the Bristol NASCAR race. It was cancelled do to LOTS of rain and will happen tomorrow afternoon. DH is kinda upset, but he will be fine.

Cami - Cat food????

Goldie - Your fun never ends.

Jazzy - Love the pictures!

NM - Sadie is one lucky pup.

Next week I will have lunch with a friend, play cards and have my grand-dog. So very excited to have some social activities with friends!

Everyone take care and enjoy what is left of the weekend.

NM,

In your Mom's pocket during the MRI with excellent results!

Hi ladies- back from a fab weekend at the hot springs and straight on in to the work week. Out one day and digging out all day today but finding my way through. I officially came off probation last week and took Friday (my b-day) off and went down for my three day get away. Really enjoyed the hot springs and they have done some major improvements since I was there 10 years ago. It was really nice being there in early spring too, in the past I was there more in winter time.

Did a private soak to start, then checked in to my room, which was small and perfect for my time away. Did sunrise and sunset soaks, found eats in town and also did a fantastic spa treatment at a Ted Turner resort there. I came away feeling very rested and restored. Weather was perfect, in the upper 60s during the day, cool at night and in the mornings. I will go back!

NM- I am sorry to hear about your mom's trip to the ER. Like Teka said, hoping that the MRI does not show anything of concern and good outcomes. I know you will be worried until you hear the results and glad she has a fab daughter nurse to help her through with questions, etc.

Goldie- that first photo I sent was of a private soak I did when I got there. They have these neat private tubs and I enjoyed that to begin with and the tub was painted blue and really contrasted against the Rio Grande (muddy) and the desert colors. I hope you are getting the same nice weather out there as we are here. I heard we may get up to 80 this weekend?

Cami- I hope the closing gets done and that you are all in the house soon. I kept seeing maybe on a Friday and wondering if it is this Friday? I know you have all been in so much flux now for awhile and you and Joey need to be back together.

Misty- the move from my own business back to FT employment has not been an easy transition, but I do like having the financial security a bit more now. In a gov type job, I feel a bit more security than if I took a job in private industry where people get laid off so quickly when there is any change (been there, done that). I reach Medicare in another 4 years and at that time, I will decide if I want to go back to consulting work (but likely won't relaunch my business again. Its not worth the time, effort and expense unless you are in it for the longer haul. You must be so close to retiring now, think it's in the next few weeks?

JCS- lots of folks into the March madness. Sounds like you are looking forward to more outings soon!

Karen- sounds like your visit with your daughter has been great. I cannot imagine how good it was to see her after this past year of no travel.

Chi- are the kids starting to plan the wedding now as things are opening up more and with the possiblity of doing what they really want.

Blessings to everyone here who honors Passover and also to those with plans for this coming Easter Weekend.

Got to get back to work but here are a few more pics before I go. One of them is for Cami, can you guess which one?

Kim - any news on your mom?

70s yesterday snow today 2-3" and 30s. Tomorrow back to the 50s and near 80 by Sunday. Spring time in the Rockies!!!

Kim - how scary but glad all is good with your mother.

For those who have Medicare - who has Advantage and who has regular Medicare? Pros/Cons? Please tell me about any issues you have with routine labs etc through oncologist or other specialists? I just applied for Part A - very weird feeling (not turning 65 but applying for Medicare). I don't need Part B or Advantage yet as we have health insurance through DH work (I work too) and as long as he is working, no need. When he retires, I have to figure out what to get. My PCP only takes AARP Medicare Advantage (United Health Care) and Anthem Advantage - both are PPOs - the Athem is through the state teachers retirement association. I think all my "ologists" take any Medicare, but I need to ask as appointments come up. TIA

Karen, I think it is because we are much older, than most people... But we have United Health Care, and we don't pay any premium! It is through AARP Medicare Advantage. That includes an annual well-being physical....!

Call them and see if you are qualified, because we also live in Denver. $0 co-pay, and $35 for a specialist! ER is $90...

We have our Primary Care Doc through Rocky Mountain Primary Care, but we like the PA better! She is like a good friend to us... Hah! When George has to have his pacemakers replaced.... 3 so far, we have to pay a little for that, but since it is same day-surgery, it isn't that much!

I think we are very lucky! Lucky to be as healthy as we are, even if our parts hurt sometimes!

When my Husband retired, we had HIS health insurance, but when we had to get our own, I called everybody... so just check them all out before you decide.

Edited to add..... I meant me and my Husband are much older than the average person, Hah! Not "we" meaning us gals on here....

Cami, congrats on taking possession of the house! Kim, glad your mom's okay. Karen, that CO spring weather can be unpredictable--but yesterday it was 65 in Chicago, while we barely made it out of the 30s today. Tomorrow is opening day at Wrigley Field--and just like every year, they're predicting possible light snow.

A place where we were going to eat with the kids this weekend had to close till the 9th because a waiter got COVID. So back to the drawing board. Meanwhile, got me a whole lotta faxing to do, after being gently nagged by our CPA.

Found out how my musician friend died: he was in his driveway, walking to his car, when he slipped & fell on a patch of ice & his head hit the pavement. Whether that caused a fatal brain bleed (by the time he was found, it was too late) or a brain bleed (aneurysm or stroke) caused the fall, we'll never know because there was no autopsy. (Those are done nowadays only when there's a suspicion of foul play, question about liability, or the family requests one). So far, no reports of COVID infections from the crowded dive bar hosting his tribute jam, but it's been only 10 days.

I can understand how someone might need a rifle to hunt, protect their cattle/sheep from predatory animals. or a pistol for protection (even my very liberal recording engineer carries one on his predawn walks because there are bobcats & coyotes in his neck of the woods). But an assault weapon? For hunting, they either intend to mow down an entire herd of deer or are the world's worst shot. A certain SC Sen. (LG) said he's thinking of getting an AR-15 in case "gangs" try to invade his home. (Somehow, I doubt that Bloods or Crips are about to descend on Seneca, pop. 8000 or so and just barely in the Greenville exurbs). IMHO, there's a lot of toxic masculinity going around: refusal to wear masks (or wearing them below the nose, the new "manspreading"), gun obsession, etc. I can't ignore that the vast majority of assaults against Asian-Americans are committed against women by men. What cowards these racists are!

Had some nice drinks this week. Had been drinking Clif Family Grenache Rosé 2020 at home. Last night at a restaurant in Evanston, Pierre Delize NV blanc de blancs and Duckhorn Decoy red blend (mostly merlot and CS) 2016. Tonight with the leftovers we might Coravin a bottle of The Prisoner red.

Hello, all! Popping in for a quick visit. Temporarily suspending my spiked coffee due to not feeling well after 2nd Moderna vaccine yesterday AM. Flopping around today, eating chicken noodle soup & mashed potatoes due to somewhat queasy. Ginger ale is my DOTD today! Hope to feel better tomorrow. Glad to have been able to have both vaccines already. DH all done & "immune" as of April 14th.

Cami - Loving your cat memes, as always. Great news about your closing! Good luck with your move.

Everyone else - stay well, stay safe, healing thoughts for all in need!

Good Morning, Loungettes!Happy Thirsty Thursday! Waking up to darkness and cold rain this ayem. But at least it's rain and not snow! Yesterday was beautifully warm, hit 60 degrees, even if the sun wasn't out. The Maine CDC has placed the district High School in Outbreak status, due to 3 positive tests in 14 days, all related, but none with transmission at the school itself. Very confusing to me, just now, why the High School is placed in outbreak status when the cases are all related to a work site where several of the students work. And, on top of that, the Maine CDC is now recommending schools use assigned seating in classes, and keep records of attendance, so that only the students next to a student who tests positive can be quarantined. Guess who is going to be expected to keep track of this? School nurses. Not such a problem in the elementary schools, but a real problem in the middle and high school levels, where students are still moving from room to room for different classes. At the high school level, attendance is not taken for each class, just once in the morning. The meeting where this was announced was quite the emotional scene. The big question that kept coming up was "When is the CDC going to take back it's work and start doing all the contact tracing again?" It's exhausting to think about. There was a lot of sentiment expressed that the Maine CDC is caving in to public pressure to reopen schools fully. This whole COVID thing is getting so tiresome.

Then there is the student I had a conversation with about chewing holes in the middle of masks. "But I can breathe better through the hole!" Yup, you can, but what is the purpose of wearing a mask? "So grown-ups don't make kids sick." Pause. Why do kids wear masks, too?"To be fair to the grown-ups." I gave the child a face shield sent him on his way.What do you say to that kind of logic?

Sadie says Woof to everyone, and reminds people not to go out in the cold rain bare foot cuz it's COLD on the tootsies and makes Mom have to wipe off the pawses to keep the mud off the kitchen floor.

Hmm, I could have sworn I posted yesterday, but I don't see one here. Must've gotten eaten by the post eating gremlin.

Karen--love the pic of your garden fountain! The rollercoaster temps are lots of fun, aren't they?

Beaver, Chevy, Minus--Medicare is so much fun to figure out!

Cammy Cat--Anxiety or stress, or moving around heavy boxes may have all been part of Mom's episode. But Sadie and I are sleeping much better since she got home! Oh boy, more closing and moving changes! How exciting! How confusing! Hang in there, it will all work out.

Chi--Sad news about how the musician friend died. In either scenario he would not have suffered, both processes bring on unconsciousness quickly.

Illi--good comparison between gun buying and car buying. What normal person has any need to go from 0 to 60 mph in seconds when most roads have a speed limit of less than 60 mph?

Celia--congrats on getting the second shot, and I'm sure you are feeling better by now. Small price to pay for immunity!